The
Netherlands
There aren't many countries with so
much land below sea level. There aren't many - if any - countries this
flat. There aren't many countries with so much reclaimed land. There
aren't many countries this densely populated, and yet so liberal. There
aren't many countries with so much water and wind, or so many boats,
sails, bikes, birds, dykes, polders, windmills, flowers, fish, bridges,
cafés, cheese - and tall people. And there certainly aren't many
countries who can claim such a vibrant colour (vivid orange in this
case) as their own. Simply put, there is no place like the Netherlands.
Start with the Dutch cities. Who hasn't
heard of Amsterdam, the capital of culture, coffeeshops and canals?
Its mesmerising beauty is hard to overestimate, and yet a surfeit of
stunning metropoles are only hours, or even minutes, away by train.
Haarlem, Groningen City, Rotterdam, Utrecht City, Den Haag, Leiden,
Delft, Maastricht - the list seems endless, a mind-boggling concept
considering the size of this small nation.
Outside the cities, the Netherlands
once again borders on over-achievement. Its bucolic splendour of national
parks and sheep-patrolled polders is perfectly complimented by shimmering
lakes, sandy coastlines, and a chain of windswept islands. Best of all,
it can all be seen from the comfort of a bicycle seat.
As we've already said, there's no place
like the Netherlands. But don't take our word for it; come join the
Dutch in their gezellig ways - you won't be disappointed.